Heavy snowfall hits Japan, traps more than 1,000 cars on a highway: NPR

A snowplow clears a road next to a car stuck on the snow-covered Kan-Itsu Expressway in the city of Minamiyonoma in Japan’s Niigata prefecture on Friday.

ST / GG Press / AFP By Getty Images

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A snowplow clears a road next to a car stuck on the snow-covered Kan-Itsu Expressway in the city of Minamiyonoma in Japan’s Niigata prefecture on Friday.

ST / GG Press / AFP By Getty Images

It started with a huge vehicle that got stuck in the cold snow. That trivial event increased the monster snow-covered traffic jam, as more than 1,000 cars were built. Trapped on the highway Which runs between the cities of Tokyo and Niigata on the coast of Japan.

Local media sources said that the swell started on Wednesday night.

“The snow was too heavy,” said one driver Said Public broadcaster NHK “As time went on, the carts got buried. I was really scared. I ate my food and drink. Now, to drink water, I have to melt the ice that I collect in plastic bottles.”

Heavy snowfall in recent days, especially in the prefectures of Niigata and Gunma, has blanketed some areas with more than a foot of snow. The NHK reports that these prefectures have seen seven times more snow than usual at this place in winter.

“I barely fell asleep, and I was worried because I had no information (about the situation),” said the 48-year-old, who was driving to his home near Tokyo. Said Kyodo News.

Officials told the news agency that at one point the car’s line was more than 10 miles long.

For a while, traffic was stopped in both directions. Kyado reported that the lenses for Niigata were cleared by Friday morning, while about 260 vehicles on Tokyo-bound vehicles were still stuck until 7 pm local time on Friday.

East Nippon Express Way Co. said it could be Saturday before all cars are cleared.

“I apologize for the extended duration of the closure on the Kan-Etsu Expressway caused by the snow and especially for the long haul to trap our customers,” NBC News said in a press conference. Report.

Japan’s self-defense force distributed food, water, blankets and fuel to people trapped in their cars, and worked with shovels to budget vehicles.

On Thursday, two people were taken to hospital for respiratory problems and ause baka, CNN reported. Report.

“The government will make every effort to rescue anyone trapped in their vehicle,” said Katsunobu Kato, a senior government spokesman and chief cabinet secretary.

Meanwhile, more heavy snow is forecast for the weekend.